Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The Letter

One of the shortest books in the Bible is the Book of Jude.

It is unique in that it was not designated to a particular church or specific group of people in a certain place.

Rather, it is directed to the whole society of Christians of that time.

One of the beautiful sentiments of God’s Word is that even though it was written centuries ago, it is still relevant and applicable to us today.

The Book of Jude is designed to warn against those that water down the gospel and those that teach false doctrine.

It is a call to look for truth that is evident and important.

It is a letter that urges believers to contend for the faith.

It is a letter that is a resounding call to action.

Jude gives his readers an urgent message that quitting is out of the question.

We learn in

There were false teachers trying to teach doctrines that were apart from the truth of the gospel.

They would not claim that Jesus was born of a virgin, lived among mankind, died a criminals death on the cross, was an atonement for sins of the world, rose from the grave conquering death and then ascended into Heaven where He sits by the Father as our Advocate.

Jude speaks of these false teachers that are antagonistic towards the church and that they are up to no good.

They are called “dreamers” in verse 8; “unreasoning animals” or “brute beasts” in vs.10; “clouds without rain” and “trees without fruit” in vs. 12; they are called “wild or raging waves of the sea and wandering stars” in verse 13; and they are called “grumblers and fault finders” in vs. 16.

As you can see, there are strong descriptive words in this short letter about these false teachers and the wording is so strong that we should be careful not embrace such folks.

Jude uses this letter to warn his readers and to encourage them to build their faith in .

Then we see a marvelous conclusion of this brief letter in verses 24-25.

Keep You from Falling

When we turn from these false teachings, we can turn to Him that is able to keep us from falling.

The word “keep” is from the Greek word phylasso which means guard or watch.

We are to guard that which has been entrusted to us.

1 Timothy 6:20

We must watch and be careful to stay close to the Lord, but only He can guard us as we do so.

The word “falling” comes from the Greek word aptaistous.

It does not occur any other place in the New Testament.

We can learn lots of its meaning in several uses of the day.

In Greek literature , it is used by the Greek Historian Xenophon of a horse being surefooted and not stumbling.

Greek biographer Plutarch used it as one being steady in the snow.

Epictetus the Philosopher used it as a word to describe a good person who does not make moral lapses.

King David used the idea in .

He is able to keep you from falling.

Do you trust Him?

Presents You Faultless

Not only does He keep you and I from falling, He presents us “before His glorious presence without fault.”

His glorious presence by the way in a place where Father and Son are side by side.

It is a place, because of Jesus, that we can be also.

1 Peter

Ephesians 1:

E

In order to be present in such a place, we must be presented faultless.

We will be without blemish.

The word for faultless fully means that it is without any imperfection and is ready to be offered to God.

The amazing thing is we do not have to wait until heaven to do this!

When we submit ourselves to God, His grace can make our lives faultless and nothing less than a sacrifice fit to offer to Him.

1 John 1:

Because we are kept from falling and are presented faultless, we are empowered to joyfully praise God!

We are Empowered to Praise God

Notice what Jude says here in praising God.

First, he calls Him the Only God.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy

He is the Only God.

Second, notice that He is God our Savior.

We usually the word savior with Jesus Christ.

Jude attaches savior here to God.

Several other instances of scripture do this.

Psalm 6

Psalm 65:

I Timothy

T

Isn’t it comforting to know that we server a God who is Savior?

Christians have the certainty that they can live in this world with and through the love of God.

We are saved from living a life of hatred and condemnation.

God has created a way to save us from falling and to be without fault.

We can praise Him and indeed call Him God our Savior.

Jude also gives Him glory.

The word glory stems from the root doxa and it means dignity, honor, praise and approval.

Notice that is where we get the name of the song we sing every week in our service, the Doxology.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures below

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

Glory is used almost 300 times throughout scripture.

1 Thessalonians 2:20

Do you give God glory?

Jude also tells us to give Him MAJESTY.

Majesty means greatness or awesomeness.

Megalosyne is the word.

Psalm 1

Psalm 145:5

God is the greatest source of greatness and awesomeness.

Yet He still gives us the opportunity to make Him that in our own lives.

Are you declaring His majesty?

Jude also declares for us to give Him power.

Power in this context means might and strength.

we asked the question last week, “How strong is God?”

This might and strength show His sovereign ability.

Psalm 65:5-

Have you experienced the power of God in your life?

If you have, then you are going to ascribe the next word Jude mentions in this list, authority.

It means control, mastery, dominion and complete jurisdiction.

It is supremacy over all creation.

God is the author of authority!

If we took just one of these attributes of praise, God would be greatly magnified and exalted.

But if we do all of them, the Kingdom of God expands in our lives and overflows into the lives of those with which we come in contact.

Judas tells us “to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power, and authority.”

Jude puts them all together and can do through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Notice why he can do this: